Back rest for chairs



Patented Oct. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BACK REST FOR CHAIRS William S. Ferris, Elkhart, Ind.

Application June 1, 1931. Serial No. 541,213 3 Claims. (01.155-184) This invention relates to improvements in back rests for chairs and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a back rest more especially adapted for use in chairs of the kind now known as correct posture chairs and largely used in oflices and work rooms.

1) Another object of the invention is to provide 'a back rest which more readily yields to conform to the back of the occupantof the chair to afford greater ease and comfort for said occupant.

Still anothter object of the invention is to provide a back rest of this kind which includes a plurality of laterally spaced pads or cushions secured to a backing plate in a manner which makes it practical to manufacture at a low cost.

The above mentioned objects of the invention as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a correct posture chair embodying my improved back rest.

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the improved back rest on an enlarged scale, with parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through one end of the back rest as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the same as taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

In general, my improved' back rest includes a rearwardly bowed backing plate formed at its ends for attachment to the associated upright supporting arms. On the front side of the back- 4 ing plate is a secondary plate bowed to conform to the backing plate. Fixed to the secondary plate is a plurality of laterally spaced pads or cushions, each including a base, a cushion memher and a covering and each base is securedto the secondary plate. The base of each end cushion carries a stud that extends through the secondary plate and backing plate as well as through a part of an associated bracket and a nut is mounted upon each stud to hold the parts in the desired relation.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, 1 indicates a chair of the kind now known as a correct posture chair and which includes the usual supporting base or standard 2 upon which a frame 3 that carries a seat 4 is mounted in any suitable manner.

5 indicates as a whole the improved back rest which is supported from the seat frame by side arms 6 at opposite sides of the chair and associ- 0 ated with the side arms are the braces 7. The back rest includes a horizontally disposed, rearwardly bowed or curved backing plate 8, having rounded ends and said plate is bounded at its edges by a short forwardly extending flange 9. This flange, however, is not so deep as to prevent a slight flexing of the backing plate. On the median line of the back plate in each rounded end thereof is formed a rearwardly depressed pocket 10 that is open at that end facing in the direction of the rounded end of the backing plate. The construction of the backing plate as described, provides one which though light in weight is strong and has that degree of flexibility desired in a back rest of this kind.

Associated with the front side of the backing plate and fitting within the flange thereof is a secondary and pad or cushioning supporting plate 11. Carried on the front side of said secondary plate is a plurality of laterally spaced, end and intermediate pads or cushions 12 and 13 respectively, the former. each being curved at one end to conform to the contour of the corresponding end of the backing and secondary plates.

Each cushion includes a base 14 preferably of 35 wood and on the front face of each base is a cushion or pad member 15. A cover member 16 encloses the base 14 and member 15 of each cushion and the margins of said cover are turned over upon the rear side of the base. Screws 17 pass through the secondary plate from the rear, into the base of each cushion to secure the cushion to said plate. The margins of the cover may be secured to the rear side of the associated base in any suitable manner and when said cushions have 9 been secured to the secondary plate by the screws 17, the margins of the various covers are held in a tucked-in condition in a manner from which they cannot easily be dislodged. The covering is preferably of a leatherette or the like while I flnd that sponge rubber makes a cushion member 15 having the desired characteristics.

Anchored in the base 14 of each end pad or cushion and extending rearwardly therefrom is a screw 18 so positioned as to extend through openings provided therefor in the secondary plate and in the pockets 10 of the backing plate.

The back rest is preferably so attached to the top ends ofthe side arms 6 as to have a limited pivoted movement with respect thereto. To so no attach said back rest, I pivot to 'the top end of each arm 6 by means of a rivet 19, one end 20 of a substantially L-shaped slip 21, the other and apertured end 22 of which is entered into the associated pocket 10 in the backing plate 8 from the open end of said pocket. In the assembly of the parts, the screw 18 extends through said clip end 21 and through that part of the back plate forming the pocket after which a cap screw 23 is applied to secure all parts together. In both the backing and secondary plates, in the perpendicular planes of the spaces or channels between the pads or cushions 12 and 13 are provided registering openings 24. These openings in connection with the spaces or channels between the various cushions provide effective ventilation not attained in back rest as heretofore made.

By means of the construction described, a soft yielding back rest which readily conforms to the back of the occupant, is provided, which promotes ease and comfort to said occupant. In the use of sponge rubber as a cushion member, the same has many advantages. It is relatively soft but tends to return to its original condition upon the release of pressure and as it is of a cellular structure, it does not absorb body heat. This arrangement in connection with the ventilation openings in the backing and secondary plates as mentioned,

rapidly dissipates body heat so that no hot spots a are produced upon those parts of the body of the occupant engaged against the back rests.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts of the improved back rest, I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A back rest structure including a supporting arm, a back plate having a part depressed therefrom to form a pocket in the rear face of said plate opening toward the associated end thereof, a

cushion on the front face of the backing plate and including a base, a cushion member and a covering member, a threaded member engaged at one end in the base and having a part extending through that part of the backing plate providing the pocket, and a clip pivoted at one end to said arm and having its other end disposed in the pocket of the backing plate, the threaded member also extending through that part of the clip disposed in the pocket.

2. A back rest structure including a pair of supporting arms, a backing plate formed at each end with pockets which open toward said end, a plurality of laterally spaced end and intermediate cushions on the front side of said plate and each including a base, a cushion member and a covering member, a threaded member anchored in the base of each end cushion and projecting through that part of the backing plate providing the pockets and clips each having a part pivoted to one of said supporting arms and each having a second part disposed in one of said pockets, each threaded member also extending through that part of said clip disposed in one of said pockets.

3. A back rest structure including a pair of supporting arms, a backing plate formed at each end with pockets which open toward said end, a secondary plate on the front side of the backing plate, a plurality of laterally spaced end and intermediate cushions on said secondary plate and 105 each including a base, a cushion member and a cover member, means for securing each base to the secondary plate, a threaded member anchored in the base of each end cushion and extending through one of said pockets in the backing plate, 110 and clips each having a part operatively connected to one of said supporting arm and each having a part disposed in one of said pockets, each threaded member also extending through that part of said clip disposed in said pocket.

WILLIAM S. FERRIS. 

